Electrodeposition of metals.



F. LMST 3.a A?. ELTON.

mecmumzmslmw of mms. APPLICATON'FRED )UNE 15 2916. a Patent@ Fcb. 5, 1918.

. States, residing at Anaconda, in the county solutions of theirl salts as h 4as electrolytes. The object of the invention tion.

tion -ofjthe metal.. 1 4 Inl-the case of zinc'salts for example itl is cell, receiving a constant flow of purified y 'i Well `known that the eiciency of the electrozinc it hasv been observed that the ill-eifects -electrodepositing system; and We so place creased as desired.

. thls indlcator cell as to receive in 'continuous -the soliltion falls below the fixed `the indicator cell, the return pira elimina.l

FREDERICK LAIST JAMES ORE ELTON, 0F ANACOND, MONTANA, SSIGNORS T0 ANACONDA COPPER MINING CQMPANY, 0F ANACONDA, lllli0I l\'f'I''Ll'.\l'.Pt` A CORPORATION 0F M'ONTAN.

ELECTRODEPCSITIQN 0F METALS.

19g-Maga speciacatin, of Letters Patent. ipmmmd' man; 5, appa,

Application filed June 16, 1916. Serial No. 104,085.

To all 'whom z't may concern: will usually slifi'ice to avoid la prolonged dis- 50 Be it known that we, FREDERICK LAIs'r and turbance of the entire electrolytic system, JAMEs Omi ELTON, citizens of the United with its attendant troubleand expense. A While tlipjgsystem as abovedescribed isl of Deerlodge and State of Montana, have particularlyadvanta 'ecus-as applied to the invented certainy new and useful Improvel'electrodepstion ofA Jinc by reason of the 55 ments in the Electrodeposition of Metals, of marked eiiect of minute quantities of certain which the following is a specification. y impurities upon the deposition of this metal, ,This invention relates to the recovery of `it will be understood thatthe invention may metals, specifically zinc, from such aqueous be applied in other electrolytic systems ave undergone a Where the indications aiiorded by a test cell process of purification to adapt them for use would be of value in controlling the operais to provide aA simple means for determin- The accompanying drawing is a diagram ing the ettici'cncy of the` purification and the or How-sheet representing a system arranged suitability ofithe solution'for electrodeposiin accordance 4with .this invention. In this yt5 flow-sheet, A represents the indicator 'or test liquor and returning its acid efiluent to the deposition of the metal, as Well as t e quality leaching system: and B, B are the main of the deposit, is dependent upon t e purity 'storage tanks for the puried solution. Pref- 70 of the electrolyte. In the particular case of erably each storage unit is capable of holding at least 24 hours supply of purified of an impure solution accidentally introelectrolyte for the main cells, and the ponduced into the electrolytic system are notice* tents 'of either unit may be returned intcase4 able lfor several days after thep'urity-of the of need, and in accordance With the indica- 75 inflowng solution has been restored. tions 'of the test cell A, to the purifying sys- According to the present invention We tem` before any portion thereof has passed equip a test cell or indicator cell with elec to the main electrolytic cells. The number trodes similar to those employed in the main of such storage units may of course be in- A We claim flow a small proportion of the purified solu- 1. In the deposition of metals by electroltion flowing'to the stora e tanks from which ysis, the combination with a purifying systhe main-electrolytic cel s receive their su tem, la storages'ystem, and a main electroply. 'llhe current and. other conditions 1n lytic system` of an indicator cell in the line. 85 this indicator cell being maintained as in the of flow of the solution between the purifymain cells, the qualit Vof the deposit therein, ing and storagesystems. and the currenteiiiciency of the deposition, 2; ln the deposition ofl zinc, the combinaserve as an accurate indication of the purity tion with a purifying system, a storage sysof the electrolyte: and in case any portion of tem, and a main electrolytic system, of an standard ihdicatorcell in the line of flow of the soluof purity, such portion can be returnedto tionbetween the purifying and storage the purification system before passing into Systems.

the electrolytic cells. For eXamp1e,-by pro- In testimony whereof, we aix our signavding a number of tanks in the storage systures. tem,and closely observing the o eratlon of or .further FREDERICK LAIST. purification of the contents of a single tank J AMES @RR ELTON. 

